Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of bufalin and Paclitaxel on proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer cell line MGC803. MethodsMGC803 treated by various concentrations of bufalin and Paclitaxel alone or in combination . The inhibition rate of cell growth detected by MTT assay,the apoptosis by flow cytometry and the protein expression of cell apoptosis associated proteins C-FLIPL and Caspase-8 by Western blot. ResultsBufalin or Paclitaxel effectively inhibited the growth of MGC803 gastric cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner at certain range of concentrations.The inhibitory rate of bufalin combined with Paclitaxel was significantly higher than that of single drug group(P<0.05).The values of combination index (CI) at 24 h,48 h and 72 h were 0.77,0.86 and 0.72 respectively. The apoptosis rate at 24 h induced by 25 ng/ml Paclitaxel and 40 nmol/L bufalin was 19.74% and 14.13% respectively, and lower than that induced by combined treatment (53.30%,P<0.05).According to control group as a baseline, C-FLIPL protein expression of Paclitaxel group,bufalin group and combined group were 78.38%,63.71% and 46.73% on the contrary, Caspase-8 protein expression were 150.25%,156.86% and 180.58% respectively. Conclusion Paclitaxel and bufalin had a synergistic effect on growth inhibition and apoptosis gastric cancer MGC803 cells and enhanced Caspase-8 expression and decreased C-FLIP expression.